Last support



Patented `?une l, 1937 UNETED TATE eATENr series 5 Clams.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a last supportadapted for use in supporting shoe lasts and particularly as a supportfor shoe lasts for supporting the last while a sole or a half sole isbeing attached through the use of an adhesive material and a suitablepressure to the shoe.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a last' support ofthis class which will be simple in structure, econcmical of manufacture,dur-able and highly eficient in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a last supporthaving a supporting standard and a horizontally movable member slidablymounted in the standard so arranged and constructed that when theinterier of the heel of the shoe is engaged the device willautomatically tend to stretch the shoe by pulling the toe thereofoutwardly of the last.

Another object of theinvention is the provision in a last support ofthis class of a vertical standard having a horizontally movable armprovided with a spring for normally retaining said arm in one positionrelatively to the supportihg standard and having a releasable mechanisniengageable with teeth on said arm for locking the same in variouspositions of horizontal movement relatively to said standard.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the arrangement and combination of partshereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by a reference to the accompanyingdrawing, which forms a part of this specification, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of the invention with parts brokenaway and parts shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, elevational view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational View of the invention with parts brokenaway and parts shown in section with a heel-engaging member mounted onthe supporting arm.

As shown in the drawing, the inventicn is used with a suitable table orsupporting member e having upwardly projecting fianges i!) grooved outto provide a channel H in which will engage the base fiange !3 of thevertical supporting standard !2. Formed through the standard !2 is apassage M in which slidably engages a supporting arm !5 having therecessed portion l on its under surface in which engages a spring 26.One end 59 of this spring is looped around a tongue !8 formed on theplate ll which is secured to one face of the standard 52. The other end2! of this spring is hooked around a pin 22 carried by the supportingarm 55. On one face 5 of this supportingiarm are formed the ratchetteeth 23. Mounted on one face of the standard !2 is a bracket 2& throughwhich is slidably projected a plunger 25 having a head 2@ which isadapted to project through the opening 26' into 10 the passage hi. Theinner end of the head 2&

is provided with teeth 21 which are adapted to engage the teeth 23. Aspring 28 embraces the plunger 25 and one end of this spring engages thebracket 26 and the other end engages the 15 head 26 so as to normallytend to thrust the head 26 inwardly into engagement position as shown inFig. 2.- Fixedly mounted on the other end of the plungeri 25 is theknurled knob 25' which serves as a gripping member for retracting theplunger. Projecting radially from the opening 2%' is a stud 29 which,when the device is in the position shown in Fig. 2, engages in a slot 30formed in the bracket 24 so as to prevent a rotation of the plunger.When the plunger is re- 25 tracted it may be rotated so that the stud 29will ride on the outer face of the bracket 24 and prevent engagement ofthe teeth 27 with the teeth 23.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a supporting post 32 30 slidably mounted in theopening or passage 3| which is formed in the supporting arm l5. Mountedswivelly by means of the pin 34 on the upper end of the post 32 is theheel-engaging head 33. The post 32 may be locked in its vari- 35 ouspositions of vertical adjustment by means of the set screw 35.

In use with the device as shown in Fig. 4 there is mounted on thestandard' i2 a last 36 having an opening 38' into which projects 40 thestud 31 which extends upwardly from the upper face of the standard !2.This last 36 is also provided with a recess or pocket 38 in whichengages the screw head 39 which projects outwardly from the upper faceof the standard IE. This screw head prevents a rotation of the last onthe stud 37. In use the shoe is placed over the last and over theheel-engaging head 33 and in order to place the shoe over the last thesupporting arm !5 is moved horizontally so as to bring the post 32 intoapproach relatively to the standard &2 against the tension of the spring29. When so positioned the plunger head 26 may be released to en age theteeth so as to prevent a movement of the supporting arm !5. When theshoe is properly positioned, the plunger head 26 may then be pulled out-Wardly and the arm |5 Will be moved in response to the action of thespring 20 so as to force the post 32 outwardly and thus Stretch the shoetightly on the last 36. If the tension of the spring is not suflicientto properly stretch the shoe, it is obvious that the arm l5 may befurther moved in the same direction, manually, and the plunger head thenreleased so that the teeth 21 will engage the teeth 23 and thus retainthe arm 15 in its outwardly moved position.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the device used With a Wooden last 44 which ismounted on the upper end of the standard. This type of last is generallyused with ladies' shoes. slidably projected through the opening orpassage 3! is a supporting post 40 having its upper end provided Withthe angularly-turned portion 41 terminating in the fork or supportingcradle 42 which is adapted to support the toe portion 43 of the lastwith the shoe thereon.

The flange !3 is provided with flat sides so as to prevent its rotationon the bed 9.

A last support constructed in this manner affords a device which isquite efiicient, which permits of proper adjustment of the supportingarm |5 to its various positions, and which facilitates this movement sothat a quick movement becomes possible. The use of the looking plungerand the spring 20 also afiords a means of looking the arm !5 in itsvarious positions and in addition quickly releasing and moving the sameto other positions.

The teeth on the arm may be termed ratchet teeth and the plunger may betermed a ratchet pawl.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofConstruction, I do not Wish to limit myself to the precise details ofstructure shown, but wish to avail myself of such variations andmodications as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A last support of the class described, comprising: a supportingstandard having a passage formed therethrough, adjacent its upper end; asupporting arm slidably projected through said passage; a springconnected to said arm and to said standard for normally resistingslidable movement of said arm relatively to said standard in onedirection; teeth carried by said arm; a ratchet pawl mounted on saidstandard and projectable into engagement with said teeth for lookingsaid arm against slidable movement relative to said standard, saidplunger being retractable; a spring for normally tending to force saidpawl into engagement with said teeth and resisting the retraction of thesame and a shoe engaging member carried by said arm and positionedupwardly thereof.

2. A last support of the class described, comprising: a supportingstandard having a passage ormed therethrough, adjacent the upper endthereof; a supporting arm slidably projected 'through said passage,there being an opening formed in said standard opening into saidpassage; teeth carried by said arm; a pawl mounted on said standard andprojectable through said opening into said passage and adapted forengaging the teeth on said arm for looking said arm against movementrelatively to said standard in one direction; a spring for normallyretaining said pawl in engagement with said teeth; means for lookingsaid pawl in non-engaging position and means carried by and projectingabove said arm for engaging a shoe.

3. A last support of the class described, comprising: a supportingstandard having a passage formed therethrough, adjacent its upper end,and provided With an opening at one side opening into said passage; abracket spanning said opening and mounted on said standard and spacedoutwardly therefrom at the portion projecting over said opening; aplunger slidably mounted in an opening formed in said offset portion ofsaid bracket; a head on said plunger projectable through said opening;teeth on the inner face of said head; a spring for normally retainingsaid head projected inwardly of said opening; a stud projecting radiallyoutwardly from said plunger and adapted upon the projection of said headinto said opening for engaging in a slot formed in said bracket, saidstud, upon the retraction and rotation of said plunger, engaging saidbracket and looking said head against projection inwardly of saidopening; a supporting arm slidably mounted in said passage; teethcarried by said arm and positioned opposite said opening and adapted forengagement With the teeth on said plunger and a shoe engaging membercarried by and projecting upwardly from said arm.

4. A last support of the class described, comprisng: a standard forsupporting a last; a supporting arm slidably mounted on said standardbelow the upper end thereof and slidable transversely thereof; a shoeengaging member carried by and projecting upwardly from said supportingarm, ad'acent one end; resilient means for resisting slidable movementof said arm relatively to said standard in one direction; teeth iormedon said arm; and a pawl engageable With said teeth for resistingmovement of said arm relatively to said standard in said direction.

5. A last support of the class described, comprising: a standard forsupporting a last; a supporting arm slidably mounted on said standardbelow the upper end thereof and slidable transversely thereof; a shoeengaging member carried by and projecting upwardly from said supportingarm, adjacent one end; resilient means for resisting slidable movementof said arm relatively to said standard in one direction; teeth formedon said arm; and a spring pressed pawl engageable with said teeth forresisting movement of said arm relatively to said standard in saiddirection.

ARTHUR F. TOTZ.

